{"id":6237,"date":"2022-04-10T13:10:05","date_gmt":"2022-04-10T17:10:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/?p=6237"},"modified":"2022-04-10T13:10:05","modified_gmt":"2022-04-10T17:10:05","slug":"chapter-10-welcome-to-vorton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/chapter-10-welcome-to-vorton\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 10: Welcome to Vorton"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Tails had transferred control of the gateway to the MSS-Enterprise<\/em>. There were now five ships on a journey to Vorton. Optimus and his family took up positions on the Autobot Flagship, the Ark<\/em>. Jazz joined in the fun and Optimus\u2019 right-hand bot, Goldbug Magnus, was already in position with his wife, Arcee, and their daughter, Glyph, assuming their posts. The Nebulans were in one of the guest quarters. \u201cAll hands ready,\u201d reported Goldbug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow we wait for the others,\u201d replied Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Because of the nature of the mission, Shockwave and her Mini-cons, Laserbeak, Ravage, and Frenzy (once Soundwave\u2019s), took up positions on the Nemesis<\/em>. \u201cAll decks report ready,\u201d said Megatron as he took up the comms position while Galvatron sat in the Captain\u2019s Chair. \u201cThe Ark<\/em>\u2019s standing by too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCaptain, there\u2019s a space bridge opening near us,\u201d reported Ravage. \u201cSmall one bearing 2-1-0 Mark 1-7-5.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSource?\u201d asked Galvatron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s from Cybertron,\u201d replied Megatron as he got Ravage\u2019s readings. \u201cThe Bridge Passenger is hailing all ships.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOpen a channel.\u201d Megatron dutifully did so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is Thundercracker Korrug, Leader of the Seekers,\u201d came the call. Shockwave ran a Spark Check. \u201cI heard that there was a fleet gathering around Mobius for a rescue mission. Nemesis<\/em>, permission to board?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSpark Check confirmed,\u201d reported Shockwave. \u201cIt\u2019s Thundercracker.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPermission granted, Thundercracker,\u201d said Galvatron. \u201cWelcome aboard. Meet us on the bridge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

While Thundercracker boarded the Nemesis<\/em>, the Enterprise <\/em>was awaiting its readiness update. Sira and her family were onboard, as were Sonic and his family and Shadow\u2019s family. Rouge and Knuckles also joined them Tails and Cosmo worked on the gateway controls. \u201cAll decks report ready,\u201d reported Shadow\u2019s tactical officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGateway controls are locked in,\u201d said Tails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe open the gateway on Optimus and the Faker\u2019s command,\u201d declared Shadow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right, Faker,\u201d chuckled Sonic. The tactical officer just rolled their eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

On the Glanthelantir<\/em>, Glanthel was in awe. \u201cI never thought I\u2019d be out among the stars,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s exciting for us all,\u201d replied his CMO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll decks ready,\u201d reported the tactical officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe await the final checks,\u201d directed Glanthel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

\u201cI can\u2019t believe I became a Mechanica AFTER this kind of experience!\u201d Endea giggled. \u201cAnd I still work in space!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s exhilarating, isn\u2019t it?\u201d asked Arsha. \u201cBeing among what was once forbidden to us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaybe we should start a space program ourselves,\u201d mused Bashoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll decks standing by,\u201d came the tactical officer\u2019s report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSignal our readiness to the fleet,\u201d ordered Endea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

\u201cFleet\u2019s reporting ready,\u201d said Shadow\u2019s comms officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet\u2019s do it to it!\u201d cheered Sonic. Shadow groaned at that phrase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

\u201cEnterprise<\/em> is ready,\u201d said Goldbug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet\u2019s roll out!\u201d declared Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

A massive dimensional rift opened in front of the fleet. Once it was opened, all ships flew in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Several rocks in space floated silently. They were connected by various scaffolds and tubes. In the center of it all was a rock with a massive gateway and five different shields with different patterns on them. This was the Main Vorton Gateway, the last of the Great Gateways of the Vortonian people. Right now, four people and a robot stood by it. One was a woman wearing orange pants and a white tank top advertising Aperture Laboratories. This was Chell of Portal<\/em>. The second one was a woman dressed like a Dalek, complete with gunstick and plunger in her forearms. This was Rusty, a former Dalek. The third was a green-skinned woman dressed in black and wearing a witch\u2019s hat. This was Elphaba Thropp, the former Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz<\/em>. The last person was a Cyberman without his helmet, revealing a man with gray hair and a moustache. This was Sir Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, the Brigadier. The robot, identifying as female, had one eye, an antenna on each side of the head, pincer claws, and a hover skirt. This was Portal Operator Omega, known as POmega. \u201cFleet\u2019s on its way,\u201d reported POmega.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOpen the other end,\u201d directed Elphaba. A fleet-sized dimensional rift opened, and the fleet arrived in orbit around Vorton. Once the rift closed, Arsha, Bashoon, Delselii, Geltar, Farmee, Yufantel, Hejema, Torya, Optimus, Megatron, Sky Runner, Firestorm, Galvatron, Goldbug, Arcee, Glyph, Sira, Sandy, Sonic, Silver, Daniel, Shadow, Maria, Trema, Llyra, Galen, Kong, Hot Rod, and Override beamed down. The ones who came to Vorton before looked as the new arrivals goggled at the place in wonder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo this is where the magic happened!\u201d chuckled Delselii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAwesome, isn\u2019t it?\u201d asked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDaddy, you never said how amazing this place was!\u201d Glyph said to Goldbug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was something you needed to see for yourself,\u201d replied Goldbug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWelcome to Vorton, everyone,\u201d greeted the Brigadier. \u201cI trust the trip was comfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was fine, Brigadier,\u201d replied Optimus. \u201cNow, let\u2019s get to work. We gotta get back into contact with Beyond City. Perhaps gain some allies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFirst off,\u201d suggested Shade, \u201cwe should probably gain some intel. Can we send some sort of probe to this Beyond City?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a matter of fact, we can,\u201d replied POmega. \u201cWe just wondered if that was a good idea given that it can\u2019t be hidden all that easily.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf we can somehow make it so that the probe is cloaked, we can easily get the intel we need,\u201d decided Shade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s my girl!\u201d chuckled Shadow as he ruffled her quills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut where are we gonna get the tech needed to cloak it?\u201d asked Bashoon. \u201cIt\u2019s not exactly cheap OR legal tech in my world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLeave that to me,\u201d replied Megatron. \u201cShockwave\u2019s been developing cloaking technology. I\u2019m sure this would be a perfect test for it.\u201d Just then, they heard a couple talking as they approached.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m telling you, we gotta get help!\u201d urged a Scottish man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd I\u2019m telling you to have faith!\u201d replied a woman\u2019s voice. Arsha\u2019s ears flicked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know that voice,\u201d she muttered. A Naga woman with a red tail then slithered in with a dark-skinned man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPalma, there\u2019s no way-!\u201d The couple stopped when they caught sight of everyone. \u201c\u2026Ah, so that\u2019s the game, eh?\u201d asked the man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cArsha?\u201d asked the Naga.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPalmarta?\u201d asked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBy the Ones, it IS you!\u201d The two women then hugged one another. \u201cIt\u2019s been too long, I thought I\u2019d never see you again after\u2026well\u2026\u201d The Naga, Palmarta, faltered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYour nephews and nieces got out of there,\u201d assured Arsha. \u201cThey formed the Palmarta School for Singers during Reconstruction.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cReconstruction?! Then\u2026we won?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe won! Dr. Borg drained Oyed and the Divine Ones of their Divine Mana and made them mortal, so we took that opportunity to get rid of Oyed and then we stopped Dr. Borg\u2019s experiment to make herself and her fellow Councilors the new Divine Ones thanks to the Divine Mana they drained. Now they\u2019re dead and me and my lovers got married and we\u2019re ruling the-!\u201d Palmarta hugged Arsha again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYour Hi\u2026Your Majesty, you have no idea how much I worried about that! I kept having nightmares and screamed myself awake! \u2026And woke up Liam in the process.\u201d She gestured to the man she came in with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI promise you,\u201d assured Liam as he stroked her back, \u201cit really was no bother. Anything for my wife.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWife?\u201d asked Arsha. \u201cYou\u2019re married?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was such a romantic first date!\u201d sighed Palmarta happily. \u201cIt was during an After Academy Prom. Our eyes drifted to each other, and we silently came together and danced the night away, all in bliss!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat was the second time we met, you numpty!\u201d called Liam. \u201cThe first time we met, you were drunk off your scaled arse!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay, so I didn\u2019t have a good coping mechanism for post-death!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI appreciate seeing the truth come to light,\u201d rumbled Megatron, \u201cbut we have business concerning your home, Mr McIntyre.\u201d Liam recognized that voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMegatron!\u201d he hissed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe\u2019s here at my request,\u201d said Optimus. \u201cSonic and I visited the Realms, then Arsha visited us, then we tried to raise Beyond City only to be met with interrupted communications, so we had to come here to assess the situation and possibly find a solution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re thinking of sending a cloaked probe,\u201d explained Arsha. \u201cApparently, Shockwave\u2019s got the cloaking tech.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, as long as Ms. One-Eye doesn\u2019t think of dissecting me or Palmarta, we\u2019ll help her make the probe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

The cloaked probe was constructed. \u201cCloaking device functions within expected parameters,\u201d Shockwave reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUploading last known dimensional coordinates to probe computer,\u201d said Rusty. \u201c\u2026Coordinates uploaded. Launching probe and opening a rift.\u201d She pressed the launch button, and the probe flew into a rift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll we do is wait,\u201d muttered Optimus as he drummed his fingers. Farmee amused himself by making cloud balls and arranging them in various patterns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou know, having fought in a war,\u201d remarked Arsha, \u201cI figured I\u2019d get used to it during peacetime. Guess not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think you need to wait that long,\u201d replied Maria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy\u2019s that?\u201d asked Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re getting a visual.\u201d A holographic display of After Academy in its current state appeared in front of everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre\u2026are those\u2026shield walls?\u201d asked Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s part of the Siege System,\u201d replied Liam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI take it that\u2019s not something the average student thinks they would see,\u201d guessed Megatron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAye, so if that system\u2019s up, After Academy\u2019s in deep shite. It blocks all normal communications channels and severs us from the rest of the multiverse.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat explains why we couldn\u2019t get to Beyond City,\u201d mused Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut what kind of enemy would warrant that?\u201d asked Farmee. \u201cWould they really be that dangerous?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe fighting needs to be contained,\u201d replied Arsha. \u201cIn that instance, Beyond City was smart. But that still leaves the identity of the enemy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHold up, the probe\u2019s detecting a vessel,\u201d said Maria. \u201cPulling up visual now.\u201d She keyed in a few commands and got the image of the vessel, a gray cube with circuitry on its hull and green light coming from inside. The instant Optimus saw it, his internal Energon nearly froze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh no,\u201d he breathed. Megatron arched an eyebrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not what I think it is, I trust?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGiven that the F.N.S knew a Klingon Dahar Master,\u201d replied Optimus, \u201cI think it is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d asked Farmee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat cube,\u201d explained Optimus, \u201cis the standard patrol vessel of the most malevolent enemy to the United Federation of Planets. It takes technology and people and assimilates them into a collective mind of cyborgs, suppressing any and all individuality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDoes this collective have a name?\u201d Optimus growled as he said the name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Borg!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tails had transferred control of the gateway to the MSS-Enterprise. There were now five ships on a journey to Vorton. Optimus and his family took up positions on the Autobot Flagship, the Ark. Jazz joined in the fun and Optimus\u2019 right-hand bot, Goldbug Magnus, was already in position with his wife, Arcee, and their daughter, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6239,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[754,880],"tags":[482,9,146,337],"class_list":["post-6237","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-journey-through-wonder","category-story-journey-through-wonder","tag-fantasy","tag-kamen-rider","tag-sonic","tag-transformers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6237","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6237"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6237\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6240,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6237\/revisions\/6240"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6239"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6237"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6237"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6237"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}